2018 Acura RDX maintenance

California Proposition 65 Warning
Event Data Recorders
This vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder (EDR).
The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain crash or near
crash-like situations, such as an air bag deployment or hitting a
road obstacle, data that will assist in understanding how a vehicle’s
systems performed. The EDR is designed to record data related
to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period of
time, typically 30 seconds or le ss. The EDR in this vehicle is
designed to record such data as:
• How various systems in your vehicle were operating;
• Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts were
buckled/fastened;
• How far (if at all) the driver was depressing the accelerator
and/or brake pedal; and,
• How fast the vehicle was traveling.
These data can help provide a better understanding of the
circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur. NOTE: EDR data
are recorded by your vehicle only if a non-trivial crash situation
occurs; no data are recorded by the EDR under normal driving
conditions and no personal data (e.g., name, gender, age, and
crash location) are recorded. Howe ver, other parties, such as law
enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the type of
personally identifying data r outinely acquired during a crash
investigation.
WARNING: This product contains or emits
chemicals known to the state of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other reproductive
harm.
To read data recorded by an ED R, special equipment is required,
and access to the vehicle or the ED R is needed. In addition to the
vehicle manufacturer, other parties, such as law enforcement, that
have the special equipment, can re ad the information if they have
access to the vehicle or the EDR.
The data belongs to the vehicle ow ner and may not be accessed by
anyone else except as legally requir ed or with the permission of the
vehicle owner.
Service Diagnostic Recorders
This vehicle is equipped with serv ice-related devices that record
information about powertrain perfo rmance. The data can be used
to verify emissions law requirem ents and/or help technicians
diagnose and solve service problems. It may also be combined with
data from other sources for res earch purposes, but it remains
confidential. Some diagnostic and maintenance information is
uploaded to Acura upon vehicle start up.
California Perchlorate Contamination Prevention Act
The airbags, seat belt tensioners , and CR type batteries in this
vehicle may contain perchlorate materials - special handling may
apply. See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate/
As you read this manual, you will find information that is preceded
by a symbol. This information is intended to help you avoid
damage to your vehicle, othe r property, or the environment.
NOTICE

Contents
This owner’s manual should be considered a permanent part of the
vehicle and should remain with the vehicle when it is sold.
This owner’s manual covers all models of your vehicle. You may find
descriptions of equipment and features that are not on your
particular model.
Images throughout this owner’s manual (including the front cover)
represent features and equipment that are available on some, but
not all, models. Your particular mo del may not have some of these
features.
This owner’s manual is for vehicles sold in the United States and
Canada.
The information and specifications in cluded in this publication were
in effect at the time of approval for printing. Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
reserves the right, however, to discontinue or change specifications
or design at any time without notice and without incurring any
obligation.2 Safe Driving P. 25
For Safe Driving P. 26 Seat Belts P. 31 Airbags P. 39
2Instrument Panel P. 67
Indicators P. 68 Gauges and Multi-Information Display P. 95
2Controls P. 119
Setting the Clock P. 120 Locking and Unlocking the Doors P. 121
Opening and Closing the Moonroof P. 145
Adjusting the Seats P. 164
2Features P. 187
Audio System* P. 188 Audio System Basic Operation* P. 192
HomeLink ® Universal Transceiver P. 224
2 Driving P. 257
Before Driving P. 258 Towing a Trailer P. 263
Parking Your Vehicle P. 332Multi-View Rear Camera P. 340
2Maintenance P. 345
Before Performing Maintenance P. 346 Maintenance MinderTM P. 349
Checking and Maintaining Wiper Blades P. 372
Climate Control System Main tenance P. 388 Cleaning P. 389
2Handling the Unexpected P. 395
Tools P. 396 If a Tire Goes Flat P. 397
Overheating P. 420 Indicator, Coming On/Blinking P. 422
2Information P. 431
Specifications P. 432 Identification Numbers P. 434
Emissions Testing P. 437 Warranty Coverages P. 439

Contents
Child Safety P. 52Exhaust Gas Hazard P. 64Safety Labels P. 65
Opening and Closing the Tailgate P. 133 Security System P. 139 Opening and Closing the Windows P. 142
Operating the Switches Around the Steering Wheel P. 146 Adjusting the Mirrors P. 161
Interior Lights/Interior Convenience It ems P. 171 Climate Control System P. 182
Audio Error Messages* P. 217General Information on the Audio System* P. 220
Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink ® P. 226 Compass* P. 255
Off-Highway Driving Guidelines P. 268 When Driving P. 270 Braking P. 320
Refueling P. 341 Fuel Economy and CO
2 Emissions P. 343
Maintenance Under the Hood P. 353 Replacing Light Bulbs P. 365
Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 376 Battery P. 385 Remote Transmitter Care P. 386
Accessories and Modifications P. 394
Engine Does Not Start P. 414Jump Starting P. 417 Shift Lever Does Not Move P. 419
Fuses P. 426 Emergency Towing P. 429When You Cannot Open the Tailgate P. 430
Devices that Emit Radio Waves P. 435 Reporting Safety Defects P. 436
Authorized Manuals P. 441 Client Service Information P. 442
Quick Reference GuideP. 4
Safe DrivingP. 25
Instrument PanelP. 67
ControlsP. 119
FeaturesP. 187
DrivingP. 257
MaintenanceP. 345
Handling the UnexpectedP. 395
InformationP. 431
IndexP. 443

Visual Index
8
Quick Reference Guide
❙Windshield Wipers (P 153, 372)
❙How to Refuel (P 342)
❙High-Mount Brake Light (P 371)
❙Opening/Closing the Tailgate
(P 133)
❙Rear Wiper (P 155, 374)
❙Back-Up Lights (P 370)
❙Brake/Taillights (P 368)
❙Rear Turn Signal Lights (P 368)
❙Rear Side Marker Lights (P 368)
❙Power Door Mirrors (P 162)
❙Maintenance Under the Hood (P 353)
❙Fog Lights* (P 152, 365)
❙Multi-View Rear Camera (P 340)
❙Tailgate Release Button (P 134)
❙Headlights (P 149, 365)
❙Front Turn Signal Lights/Parking Lights/
Daytime Running Lights
(P 149, 367)
❙Side Marker Lights (P 149, 367)
❙Tires (P 376, 397)
❙Door Lock/Unlock Control (P 125)

19
Quick Reference Guide
Maintenance (P 345)
Under the Hood (P 353)
● Check engine oil, engine coolant, and windshield washer
fluid. Add when necessary.
● Check brake fluid.
● Check the battery condition monthly.
aPull the hood release handle under the corner of the
dashboard.
bLocate the hood latch lever, sl ide the lever, and lift up the
hood.
cWhen finished, close the hood and make sure it is firmly
locked in place.
Lights (P 365)
● Inspect all lights regularly.
Wiper Blades (P 372)
● Replace blades if they leave streaks
across the windshield.
Tires (P 376)
● Inspect tires and wheels regularly.
● Check tire pressures regularly.
● Install snow tires for winter
driving.
* Not available on all models

27
uuFor Safe Driving uImportant Safety Precautions
Safe Driving
■Pay appropriate attention to the task of driving safely
Engaging in cell phone conversation or other activities that keep you from paying
close attention to the road, other vehicles , and pedestrians could lead to a crash.
Remember, situations can change quickly, and only you can decide when it is safe to
divert some attention away from driving.
■Control your speed
Excessive speed is a major factor in crash injuries and deaths. Generally, the higher
the speed, the greater the risk, but serious injuries can also occur at lower speeds.
Never drive faster than is safe for curr ent conditions, regardless of the maximum
speed posted.
■Keep your vehicle in safe condition
Having a tire blowout or a mechanical failure can be extremely hazardous.
To reduce the possibility of such problems, check your tire pressures and condition
frequently, and perform all regularly scheduled maintenance.

51
uuAirbags uAirbag Care
Safe Driving
Airbag Care
You do not need to, and should not, perform any maintenance on or replace any
airbag system components yourself. However, you should have your vehicle
inspected by a dealer in the following situations:
■When the airbags have deployed
If an airbag has inflated, the control unit and other related parts must be replaced.
Similarly, once an automatic seat belt te nsioner has been activated, it must be
replaced.
■When the vehicle has been in a moderate-to-severe collision
Even if the airbags did not infl ate, have your dealer inspect the following: the driver’s
seat position sensor, weight sensors in the passenger’s seat, front seat belt
tensioners, and each seat belt that was worn during the crash.
■Do not remove or modify a front seat without consulting a dealer
This would likely disable the driver’s seat position sensor or the weight sensors in the
passenger’s seat. If it is necessary to remove or modify a front seat to accommodate
a person with disabilities, contact an Acur a dealer. For U.S. vehicles, Acura Client
Service at 1-800-382-2238 and for Canadian vehicles, Acura Client Service at
1-888-9-ACURA-9.
1 Airbag Care
We recommend against the use of salvaged airbag
system components, including the airbag, tensioners,
sensors, and control unit.

85
uuIndicators uMulti-Information Display Warning and Information Messages
Continued
Instrument Panel
*1:On the left: Models wi thout full color display
On the right: Models with full color display
Message*1ConditionExplanation
●Appears when the scheduled maintenance is
due soon.
●Consequently, SERVICE DUE NOW /
Maintenance Due Soon and SERVICE PAST
DUE /Maintenance Past Due follow.2Maintenance Minder Messages on the
Multi-Information Display P. 350
●Appears when the engine coolant
temperature gets abnormally high.
2Overheating P. 420
●Appears when there is a problem with the
power tailgate system.●Manually open or close the power tailgate.●Have the vehicle checked by a dealer.
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U.S.U.S.
Canada